The state's Roman Catholic leaders acknowledge that Massachusetts is in tough financial shape. But the expanded gambling legislation now wending its way through the Beacon Hill law-making process isn't a catholicon, according to the commonwealth's four Catholic bishops.

"The Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC), on behalf of the bishops, will continue to speak out against expanded gambling because the downside certainly outweighs any short-term economic benefits," James F. Driscoll, MCC's executive director, said Friday in a phone interview from the organization's Boston headquarters.

Since 1969, MCC has served as the official representative of the state's four Catholic dioceses on public policy issues. And all four bishops, including the Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, strongly oppose casino gambling in Massachusetts, which could get three new casinos under legislation currently being considered by state lawmakers.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Friday approved its version of a casino bill that includes a provision for a large-scale gambling facility anywhere in the four western Massachusetts counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire. The Senate bill -- similar to a bill approved Wednesday by the House of Representatives -- would allow three casinos in three geographic zones in Massachusetts, as well as a slot parlor with up to 1,250 slot machines.

A debate in the full Senate is scheduled to get underway on Sept. 26.

In an appeal to lawmakers in heavily Catholic Massachusetts, the state's Catholic bishops are hoping their collective clout might help derail the legislation, which the clergymen believe could further erode the Bay State's moral and social fabric.

"We urge the Massachusetts state Senate not to follow the lead of their colleagues in the House of Representatives, but vote against the expansion of predatory gambling," the bishops said in a joint statement issued Friday.

Driscoll, speaking on behalf of the bishops, said big-time organized gambling has far more "negative social influences" than positive. He said passage of the gambling legislation could lead to a spike in divorce and rising alcohol- and drug-abuse rates, among other issues that are deleterious to overall health of the state.

"The bishops recognize the financial strains the state continues to be under, but (they) make it clear that this is not the answer to our financial woes," Driscoll said.

The bishops said the Catholic Church views gambling as "a legitimate form of entertainment when done in moderation." However, the expanded gaming legislation "opens the door to a new form of predatory gaming, which threatens the moral fabric of our society," they said.

The statement goes on to say: "We are concerned that the commonwealth's reliance on gambling revenue continues to escalate. This reliance upon an unstable form of revenue, which has been shrinking in other states, would depend upon those who are addicted to gambling, many of whom are already among the ranks of the poorest in the community."

Mark E. Dupont, a spokesman for Bishop McDonnell, said casinos are not a panacea for the state's economic woes.

"Bishop (McDonnell) is also very sympathetic, knowing that, here in the western part of the state, the economy is in particularly tough shape," he said.

"Many of our Catholics in the pews are among the unemployed, or the under employed" Dupont said.

He said any casino-related construction jobs are likely to be "short-lived" jobs that won't improve the overall unemployment rate or have a long-term positive impact on the region's economy.

"We see the downside to the economy," Dupont said. "High-end gambling enterprises cause us great concern."

The bishops, citing the downside of gambling and its negative effect on society, said casinos are "an illusory solution that will only add to the need for state assistance in the commonwealth."

Although Catholic Church leaders acknowledge that Bingo and other games-of-chance help raise revenues for churches, schools and other nonprofit organizations, such activities provide only "relatively small amounts of revenue" for the church and are miniscule compared to organized gambling facilities.

"We hope the citizens of the commonwealth will recognize the difference between a local fundraiser managed by volunteers and a multibillion-dollar industry that exploits vulnerable members of the community for financial gain," the bishops said.

If Massachusetts passes the proposed gambling legislation, it would open the door for casinos and slot parlors and possibly "diminish our rich heritage and history as a commonwealth," the bishops said. "There is too much at stake for Massachusetts to open the door to expanded gambling."

In addition to McDonnell, the joint statement is signed by Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston; Rev. George W. Coleman, Bishop
of the Diocese of Fall River; and Rev. Robert J. McManus, bishop of the Diocese of Worcester.